Zhang Lu (Three Kingdoms)
| Zhang Lu | |
|---|---|
| Warlord of Han Dynasty | |
| Born | (Unknown) |
| Died | 216 |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 張魯 |
| Simplified Chinese | 张鲁 |
| Pinyin | Zhāng Lǔ |
| Wade–Giles | Chang Lu |
| Courtesy name | Gongqi (Chinese: 公祺; pinyin: Gōngqí; Wade–Giles: Kung-chi) |
Zhang Lu (died 216), courtesy name Gongqi, was a warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was also the third leader of the Celestial Masters, a Taoist religious group. He controlled a state in the Hanzhong region, which he had named Han'ning (漢寧) until 215, when he surrendered to Cao Cao, who he would serve until his death one year later.
Upon the death of his father, Zhang Heng (), Zhang Lu inherited control of the Celestial Masters religious group, and therefore became its third leader (the first was Zhang Lu's grandfather Zhang Daoling). The religion enjoyed its greatest popularity in Yi Province (present day Sichuan), but when Zhang Lu took control of the group, it was being challenged in the area by a shamanistic religion led by Zhang Xiu (, no family relation to Zhang Lu).
Against this background, both Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu were abruptly ordered by Liu Yan to go together to attack the forces of the official Han governor of Hanzhong, Su Gu (蘇固) and take over his territory. However, having his own designs, Zhang Lu killed Zhang Xiu and absorbed his armies and religious followers into his own group before he went off for the campaign against Hanzhong. He successfully managed to defeat Su Gu, and upon taking control of Hanzhong, renamed the region Han'ning (漢寧), ruling it by the principles of his religion. It is worth noting that although he nominally followed the orders of Liu Yan, when Liu Zhang succeeded him many years later, Zhang Lu refused to follow Liu Zhang's orders. As a result, Zhang Lu's mother, younger brothers, and many other family members were executed by Liu Zhang.
It is said that Zhang Lu's rulership over his territory was for its time very humane and civilized. Roads were built throughout the territory with rest stops and foods provided free of charge. The taxes and donations taken from the people were not to be used for amusement, but instead for the support of the common people. In addition, under his leadership was a powerful army and strong defences such that neither Cao Cao nor Li Jue could easily defeat him. His authority was recognized by the Han court, who granted him generalship (鎮民中郎將) and named him official Grand Administrator of Han'ning (漢寧太守). According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, he was then presented with a jeweled seal by the common people of his realm, which was a sign from Heaven that he was to become a king. Many of his subordinates urged him to declare himself a king, but his advisor Yan Pu warned that to do so would bring disaster. Zhang Lu heeded his advice.
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Wikipedia